ABSTRACT
This study x-rays queer theory in Chinelo Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees and Meredith Russo’s If I Was your Girl. The study concentrates on the experiences of the LGBT members using some queer characters in the African and American novels mentioned above. Queer theory critically looks at the way power works to institutionalise and legitimate certain forms and expressions of sexuality and gender while stigmatizing others. It gained the emergence and popularity of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender which is now referred to as LGBT or Queer.
The world at large has been formally or informally informed through literary works and critical writings of queer writers about the existence of the LGBT but the LGBT people are yet to gain full recognition across the world. Thus, this study gives insights to the worlds of the LGBT people through the novel under study.
The method of analysis is textual analysis which involves a close reading of the novels under study and excerpts are analysed based on queer theory. The theory is used to properly explore the novel through textual analysis in order for the researcher to elaborately enlighten the public about the experiences of the LGBT people in recent times.
The study examines Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees in order to x-ray the experiences of the LGBT in the African setting. Okparanta renders her voice through her novel to create the view that LGBT people are everywhere in Africa and should not be marginalized. Also, Meredith Russo’ If I Was your Girl analyses the experiences of the LGBT people as well as the recognition gained in recent times in the United States of America through her novel. Thus, this study highlights the social, parental and religious experiences of the LGBT people through the novels.
